Just as Rep. Eric Swalwell continues to hint with greater frequency that he will end his presidential campaign sooner than later and run for re-election in the 15th Congressional District, Hayward Councilmember Aisha Wahab is moving forward with her nascent run for Congress.
On Thursday she received the endorsement of East Bay Assemblymember Buffy Wicks. Earlier this week, Wahab gained the support of South Bay Assemblymember Ash Kalra.
Before Wicks and Kalra, Wahab’s highest-profile endorsement came last month from California Treasurer Fiona Ma.
Wicks was elected to represent the 15th Assembly District last November. Prior to that, she served in the Obama administration and led Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in California.
“It was an honor to serve President Obama in the White House, but I left Washington for a reason,” Wicks said, in a statement announcing her endorsement of Wahab’s campaign.
“In California, we actually get progressive policy enacted, but in the National Capitol there are just too many out-of-touch members of Congress who don’t actually care to address the real struggles of our communities.”
With state Sen. Bob Wieckowski’s decision to end his congressional campaign after just three weeks and, instead, run for Alameda County supervisor, Wahab remains the only candidate in the field, at least, for now.
Wahab has not said whether she, too, would bow out if Swalwell seeks re-election to Congress in the March 2020 primary, only adding she would “reassess” the situation if it occurs.
The pair of legislative endorsements this week, however, suggests Wahab’s campaign is planning to move forward amid uncertainty over Swalwell’s intentions.
ebcitizen.com 